ANTI-smoking campaigners have called for alcohol-style licences for anyone selling cigarettes.

Smoke Free Greater Manchester made the plea as the legal age for buying tobacco was raised from 16 to 18.

Anyone caught selling cigarettes to under 18s now faces a £2,500 fine.

However, the group which provides support to children as young as 10 trying to quit smoking also want anyone selling cigarettes to youngsters to face loosing their licence - just like people caught breaking the age laws on alcohol.

They say research shows around half of young people who smoke buy their own cigarettes and want action to make this impossible.

Pat Karney, NHS Director of Smoke Free Greater Manchester, who helped launch the campaign with children's minister Beverley Hughes in her Urmston constituency, said: "We welcome the move to increase the age limit for buying cigarettes.

"We will now be lobbying the government for tougher legislation to introduce licences for selling cigarettes - so anyone caught breaking the law will risk losing their licence."